3. Portland Trail Blazers take Scoot Henderson
It appears this pick will be made by whoever selects second overall. Everyone has Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson as the second and third picks in some order. The bigger question is will Portland make this selection? The Blazers are talking to multiple teams, but can they find a deal that is of equal value to the potential superstar they could draft?
Henderson is an elite athlete, and the 6’2 guard is ready to be a starting point guard in the NBA right now. He will make an immediate impact and could be a multiple-time All-Star by the time his career is over. The 19-year-old puts on a show and will produce some must-see dunks as a rookie.
Beyond the highlights, his ball-handling ability, basketball IQ, and pick-and-roll game stand out. Henderson will be making plays and picking apart defenses from day one. There will be some head-scratching turnovers as with any rookie point guard, but that will be part of his maturation process.
His shooting ability and shot selection are the biggest question marks. Henderson shot just 27.5 percent from 3-point range for the G League Ignite, and he needs to improve his jumper if he is going to reach his ceiling.
Scoot Henderson will be a top-three pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, but where he lands is a massive question mark. The Portland Trail Blazers have to take him if they cannot find a trade for the third-overall pick that matches his immense upside.